For many people live music is a more than welcome addition to a night out in the capital.

Bars, pubs and clubs across Edinburgh are regularly frequented by talented performers – and are often packed with punters indulging in a sing-along. The atmosphere is inevitably electric and you're always bound to meet some great new friends, especially if you have a few beers.

While there are dozens of live music venues more than worthy of a visit, we've compiled a list of the five very best live music spots for those out and about.

Whistle Binkies

Whistle Binkies, Edinburgh. (Image: Whistle Binkies, Facebook.)

You'll do well to find somewhere with more free live music on than this place. On Friday and Saturdays they feature up to six acts each evening while from Sunday to Thursday its just the four.

The atmospheric bar, located in the vaults under South Bridge, is also home to what they say is the capital's longest-running open-mic night each Monday, while on Tuesdays they welcome some of the finest local acts to their stage.

Much of the music has a rock and blues influence, and a lively crowd is almost guaranteed.

Sandy Bell's has gained a reputation worldwide as a go-to venue for live folk music.

For more than 50 years it's been at the heart of the community on Forrest Road, and while it's a popular spot with locals, it also attracts musicians and visitors from across the globe and has become something of a meeting place for folk aficionados.

Live sessions take place every day, with an emphasis on traditional Scottish and Irish music.

Visitors are also known to take advantage of their extensive malt whisky selection, which definitely enhances their enjoyment of the already-excellent music.

Stramash

Stramash, Edinburgh. (Image: Stramash Facebook.)

Having recently undergone a major renovation, this bar and live music venue - located in the Cowgate area with capacity for almost 1000 people- is regularly full to the brim.

It boasts a party atmosphere and a packed-out schedule of gigs and events – it even ran a daily ceilidh with top band The Brave throughout the month of August 2018, and it's set to repeat that again in 2019.

Music with a distinct Scottish flavour is a regular fixture while rock, pop and reggae acts have also taken to the stage at Stramash.

Celtic outfit The Peatbog Faeries and the genre-hopping Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 are among those to have played here in recent times.